Joey Barton has once again stirred the pot regarding his past with Mark Hughes, accusing his former manager of “acting the ****” during their brief and tumultuous time together at Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

The midfielder’s comments have reignited a long-standing feud, as he shared his frustrations in a recent interview on Liam Tuffs’ podcast, The Dozen.

Tensions at QPR

Mark Hughes took charge of QPR in January 2012, taking over a struggling team that was on the brink of relegation.

Barton, who was the club captain at the time, played a significant role under Hughes.

However, it was a season marked by tension and controversy.

Barton served 16 appearances under Hughes as QPR narrowly avoided relegation, but things took a turn for the worse on the final day of the campaign.

Barton was sent off during a 3-2 defeat to Manchester City, a match that saw City crowned Premier League champions.

Barton’s Explosive Reaction

In a candid conversation, Barton revealed that the situation with Hughes escalated far beyond football, describing a personal conflict that would linger for “the rest of their lives.”

Barton recalled a heated moment where he locked the door to Hughes’ office and told him, “This is not a football argument… this is like me and you for the rest of our lives the way you are carrying on here.”

Barton, never one to back down, even hinted at the possibility of physical confrontation, saying, “If I get the opportunity to make it 1-1, I will.”

Psychological Power Struggles

Barton did not hold back when describing the nature of his disagreements with Hughes.

He accused the former Manchester United star of trying to “psychologically dominate” him and using Barton as an example to other players.

“He just acted the **,” Barton explained, adding that Hughes seemed to believe that his managerial role gave him the right to do anything he wanted.

“Football in Narnia… it’s like a f*ing fairytale land,” Barton said, pointing out that the football world is disconnected from the real world outside of it.

He continued, explaining that Hughes’ attempts to exert control over him were poorly executed, and that trying to dominate someone like him was bound to backfire.

A Chance Encounter in Dubai

Barton went on to describe an encounter with Hughes many years later in Dubai.

He recalled how they crossed paths in a pool, and Hughes immediately sensed the unresolved tension.

“He had to go and walk around the other way,” Barton said, noting that Hughes clearly knew the old animosity hadn’t faded.

For Barton, the situation was personal, and he felt that Hughes had used him as an example in front of the team, something Barton was unwilling to tolerate.

The Fight Proposal

This wasn’t the first time Barton had spoken about the explosive moments with Hughes.

In a 2016 interview, Barton revealed that he had once followed Hughes into his office, locked the door, and offered to settle their differences with a fight. “I hate you so much and you hate me,” Barton said he told Hughes.

Let’s just sort this out… whoever walks out, walks out, and we get on with it.”

Hughes, unsurprisingly, declined the offer, stating that as the manager, he couldn’t physically fight Barton.

The altercation was eventually de-escalated, but Barton’s frustration with Hughes was clear.

The End of the Road for Barton and Hughes’

After the 2011-12 season, Barton’s time with QPR came to an end.

He left the club after the summer transfer window, joining Marseille on a season-long loan.

Hughes, meanwhile, was dismissed by the club during the 2012-13 season after QPR’s relegation.

Barton would return to the club after their demotion, but their paths would never cross again in the same way.

Life After Football

After retiring from football in 2018, Barton went on to manage Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers, but he hasn’t held a managerial role since being let go by Bristol Rovers in October 2023.

Hughes, still active in the managerial world, recently took charge of League Two side Carlisle United.

While their careers have moved in different directions, the personal tension between the two continues to linger.